Gators RB Jeff Demps to train for Olympics instead of NFL Draft

Jeff Demps nearly quit football last summer so he could focus solely on his track career. He came back for one more season, but appears to have revisited that decision and opted to leave football behind.
Instead of training for the upcoming NFL Draft, Demps will work to earn a spot as a sprinter for Team USA in the 2012 Olympics. He also will compete on Florida’s track team.

“I can have the mindset of a full-time track guy now,” Demps said on the school’s website.

“Once I got done with the Gator Bowl, I kind of already had my mind made up… I enjoy track and it’s something I love to do.”

Demps has four NCAA track championships already. In 2010, he won titles in the indoor 60 meters, outdoor 100 meters and outdoor 4×100 meters relay. He repeated in the indoor 60 meters last season.

In his final year of football, Demps rushed for 569 yards (5.8 per carry) and six touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 172 yards and had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

He finished with 2,470 career rushing yards, placing him eighth in Gators history. He also had 23 rushing touchdowns, which is 10th all time.